Former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza, the projected No. 1 pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, has some major off-the-field news heading into the draft process.
Mendoza used the platform LinkedIn to announce that he was declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. Moreover, now the potential Raiders QB has a deal with the networking outlet.
In a Jan. 27 article, LinkedIn confirmed to Front Office Sports that it and Mendoza are in a business relationship, following Mendoza’s spike in popularity and engagement.
“As of last week, we’re working with Fernando in a more integrated capacity,” LinkedIn told Front Office Sports. “We’re excited to continue working with him moving forward.”
With 167,000 followers, Mendoza has become a natural advocate for the professional networking platform. Aside from YouTube, it is the only social app on his phone, a choice he says allows him to block out distractions.
Raiders Get Good Insight on Fernando Mendoza
Las Vegas need a franchise QB, and they are in a prime position to select one in Mendoza. Moreover, if they need more convincing, former NFL signal-caller Jordan Palmer shared insight into Mendoza, with whom he has been in contact since the player was making the move to Cal.
“I know him very well and really came on my radar on his way to Cal,” Palmer said on the Jan. 26 edition of “The Jim Rome Show.” “Somebody tipped me off that this kid’s going to be really good… Look, the skill set, it doesn’t take you too long to go, ‘Alright, cool, NFL guy.‘ The skill set is what it is. He’s mobile, he makes every throw, he likes to throw on time.”
Moreover, Palmer believes that Mendoza is the right guy to head into Las Vegas and turn their fortunes around.
“I think uniquely about this is you got the Raiders, which whatever you want to say about the ownership and the decisions they make, then you add in Tom Brady, then you’re going to have a new coach,“ Palmer added.
“Plus, it’s Vegas and all the temptations and stuff that come with that. Plus, Raider Nation, which is a much bigger fan base than Indiana Hoosiers. I think he’s the perfect guy to come in here and play well and weather the storm.”
Tom Brady Under Pressure Amid Fernando Mendoza Link
With Tom Brady holding a minority stake in the Raiders, any missteps in Mendoza’s development could reflect on a quarterback often regarded as the greatest of all time. Furthermore, Yahoo! Sports’ Jason Fitz points out that this adds pressure on Brady to ensure Mendoza develops into the team’s long-term solution at quarterback.
“Tom Brady himself needs to make sure that the infrastructure is taking care of his quarterback, “ Fitz said on the Jan. 23 edition of “Yahoo Sports Daily.” “Tom Brady needs to make sure the person that knows what it takes for a quarterback to be surrounded with the right things needs to damn well make sure that the team he calls himself an owner of has that very infrastructure.
“If the Raiders don’t get it right with Fernando Mendoza, if they ruin Fernando Mendoza, not the other way around. If the Raiders ruin Fernando Mendoza, I’m looking squarely at you, Tom Brady.”
Fernando Mendoza Gets Major News Amid Raiders Draft Link